» The Cubs make their first appearance in Oakland today to start a three-game series with the A's, whose 48-35 record is their best through 83 games since 1992. Cubs manager Dale Sveum played for the Ports in 1983 when he was in the Brewers' organization.

» American sports fans don't seem enamored with ladies golf, but Korea's Inbee Park is having a remarkable season. With her four-shot win at the U.S. Open, Park joined Babe Zaharias as the only female golfer to win the first three majors in a season. If she wins the Women's British Open next month, she'll be the first golfer to win four majors in the same calendar year.

» The Huntsville Stars' Second Amendment Night promotion was supposed to include a gun raffle until Minor League Baseball notified the Brewers' Double-A affiliate the promotion was a bad idea. Card-carrying NRA members still can get into the game free.

» The Pelicans are offering Kings guard Tyreke Evans $44 million for four years. Sacramento can match the offer but the price might be too steep for Sacramento, which has eight guards, including recent No. 1 draft pick Ben McLemore.

» In an era when starting pitchers sometimes get standing ovations for leaving with the lead in the sixth inning, 50 years ago today, the Giants' Juan Marichal and the Milwaukee Braves' Warren Spahn combined to throw 31 1/3 scoreless innings before Willie Mays hit a solo home run in the 17th to win it 1-0 for San Francisco. Marichal threw 227 pitches; Spahn threw 201 in their epic duel.

» The PGA Tour has agreed to ban long putters to comply with the Royal & Ancient and USGA, effective in 2016. Harry Manion, a Boston-based attorney, is happy about this because nine players who oppose the ban have retained his services to challenge it.

» "The giant is back" chanted Brazil's soccer fans at Maracana during their country's 3-0 win over Spain the Confederations Cup final. Brazil's fans and fast start were too much for Spain, which had its 29-match winning streak in competitive matches snapped.

» The Patriots are offering fans the chance to swap the Aaron Hernandez No. 81 jerseys for other jerseys because the tight end was arrested and charged with murder last week. Pats fan John Lamothe of Florida wanted to get rid of his Hernandez jersey. Instead of chucking it, donating it to Goodwill or swapping it, he put it up on eBay. It sold for $289.

» Raiders rookies and veterans report for training camp July 25. 49ers rookies report July 19 and veterans on July 24.

» Former Ports second baseman Jemile Weeks has struggled since a strong rookie season in 2011 with the A's. Weeks is playing some center field these days and is hitting .264 in Triple-A Sacramento after hitting .221 with the River Cats last season.